New Choices Career Development Program Receives Penn Medicine CAREs Grant
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA, March 16, 2012)—Clients in Delaware County Community College’s New Choices Career Development Program will now have assistance with child care services thanks to a generous grant from Penn Medicine’s CAREs Foundation. Representatives from Penn presented the first-time grant award of $1,500 to the College on Friday, March 2, 2012.
“This much-needed award will support child care services for women who would otherwise be unable to attend the New Choices Career Development Program and take steps to improve their employment opportunities,” says Sandy Gera, Director of the New Choices Career Development Program. “We're very excited to receive this generous grant from the Penn Medicine CAREs Foundation.”
New Choices is a free (for those who are eligible) career exploration and job re-entry program that provides individual and group support, career planning workshops, employer contacts, networking opportunities, résumé writing assistance, interviewing techniques and basic computer skills to clients. Classes and workshops are designed to build self-confidence and economic security. Over the last 29 years, the program has provided support and direction to thousands of area residents.
The grant was sponsored by Camille Evans, a corporate recruiter for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Evans uses her personal time to volunteer for New Choices where she assists with mock and informational interviews and serves on employer panels. Her community outreach work coincides with Penn’s mission to improve lives and health in underserved communities throughout the Philadelphia area.
“It’s really tough trying to get into the workforce, or back into the workforce, at any time really. But when you have the added responsibility of taking care of children, it can be even more difficult,” says Evans. “New Choices will be able to use this particular grant to fund daycare for the children of adults who would like to participate in this program but currently do not have any daycare options.”
To learn more about New Choices, visit www.dccc.edu/newchoices.
